The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-07-16
OLD FIELD SPORTS.
Hawking" as Used In the Chase
for Centuries.
English Dogs That Have Followed the
Chase Since the Middle Ages-The
Hawk Alter Its Game, the
Wary Heron.

The English and Americans agree
With the ancients in according high
:ank to field sports. The hunting of
,avage animals was the highest branch.
,or not only skill and courage were
necessary, but great presence OF mind
y well. But it has been left to the
ncdcrns to most thoroughly appreciate
ield sports. One reason is they are
,etter qualified to admire the successful
adaptation Of means to an end; and,
,econdly. because from their prosperous
,ondition they are not to any extent
dependent upon the game they kill.
The forest music ID to hear the hounds =.
Rend the thin air, and with . lusty cry
Awake the drowsy echoes and confound
Their perfect language in mingled sound.
Homer gives most graphic descrip-
ion of an archery match, sort of
.Old Hats" pigeon-match, between
TWO crack shots, Experienced Merton
and skillful Tencer." the Osbaldistone
and Horace Ross, the DR.. Carver and
Buffalo Bill'' of this day. The target
was milk-white dove, tied by cord
o the top Of first-rate gallery. The
prizes were ten double-cdged war
axes to whoever killed the bird,
and ten single axes to the one who
should divide the cord. The COM
petitors drew lots and Tencer got
he first shot, dividing the cord with
single arrow. Merton then took aim
and bagged the bird on the wing.
There being no reporters for the daily
press present at this remarkable match,
We shall be compelled to take Homer's
word. unsupported, for the accuracy Of
he statement
In ancient times the bow, Of course.
was the chief implement of war and the
chase, and by the experiences Of the bold
arches has often decided the fate of bat
lies and Of empires. To an improve
nent of the weapon termed the cross
BOW our hardy forefathers were princi-
pally indebted for their famous victories
1t Agincourt, Cressy and Poltiers.
Hence tho English archers became the
most renowned in all Europe. Previous
10 the invention of firearms and gun
powder the bow formed the almost uni
versal weapon in the forest and in the
ield. 1t appears that the cross-bow
was introduced in England by William
The Conqueror. An act made in the
fifth year Of the reign Of Edward w.
directs that every Englisknan have a
bow Of his own height, of yew, ash,
hazel, or auburn; that butts shall be
made in every township. which the in
habitants are to shoot at every feast
lay under the penalty of a half-penny
when they shall omit this exercise.
Several other statutes were made in
succeeding reigns for the promotion Of
archery; and in the eighth year Of
Charles /. q commission was issued by
The King to the Chancellor, Lord Mayor
and several of the Privy Council, to
prevent the fields near London being
nclosed, 80 as to interrupt the neces-
,ary and profitable exercise of shoot
ing;" and also to lower the mounds
where they prevented the view from
,ne to another. In 1853 targets were
erected in the Finsbury fields during
Easter and Whitsun holidays. when the
best shooter was made captain and the
second best lieutenant.
Dogs were used in the chase as IA,
back As we have any records of field
sports. In quaint volume printed in
1860 is found curious account Of the
varieties Of British dogs that are to b
met with in England. They are emu
merated as follows: The "terrare
harier, bludhunde, gasehunde. gre
hunde, loire or lyemmer, tumbler
,paniels setter, water spaniel or fynder
shepherds dog, massive or band dog
Mrne spit Ounce" The terrare i
probably the progenitor Of our terrier
Il is described as small kidd of hound
used to force the fox and other animal.
> out of their holes. The harier was used
Tor hunting the hare. The bludhunds
or sluthhund was Of great use and hello
in high esteem among our ancestors
twas remarkable then as now for it.
acuteness Of scent, tracing any wounded
large game that had escaped the hunter
and following the trail of the marauder
no matter how great the distance. 1
was Of great service on the borders q
Scotland and England when the raid
Of outlaws upon the herds and flock
were frequent and disastrous. The,
were also used by Wallace and Bruc'
during the civil wars.
The gasehound was very quick An,
intelligent It was able to select from
tho hard the latest and finest deer
pursue It closely, and s lost for : tim
recover Il and again pick it out from
tho herd which It had rejoined. Thi
species d now unknown The gre
hunq VA re aFst n rank smonedogs